Burger Joint has recently opened an outpost downtown on 8th street. This makes it much more easily accessible than its midtown predecessor for people like me, who are much more likely to stop by late-night than for a mid-workday lunch on a Tuesday.

This is exactly what happened last week. After my happy hour extended well beyond the normal dinner hours, I was starving and craved a burger. The new 8th street location is pretty large with a bar in front and booths towards the back. The décor is pseudo divey with assorted pieces of graffiti art lining the walls. At the very back is the open kitchen where all the magic happens.

The Joint burger falls into the category of “fast-food” burger, much like a Shake Shack or In-n-Out Burger – that means a thin patty with your standard toppings lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese (if you want) and pickle. The freshness of the ingredients blows any other “real” fast food place out of the water but can also arguably compete with a higher end luxury burger.

The meat patty is thick enough so that it is still pink on the inside. The vegetables are crisp and fresh. The fries are a fairly thin cut and crispy, served in a cute little paper bag. What’s more, you can order a cocktail while you enjoy your meal.

If I were to compare this burger to my beloved Shake Shack, I would say this is slightly “healthier” – only because Shake Shack is so greasy (which is exactly what makes it so wonderful.

Burger Joint is a really good fast food burger which will be happily welcomed to the scene south of Grand Central.